Cash boost for amateur theatre group in Kenilworth

Photo attached: (Left to right) – Priory Theatre members Nicky Main, Ruth Jones, Brian Goredema-Braid and Ray Arber (seated), from the set of Tiptoe Through The Tombstones.

Members of the Priory Theatre will use the £1,670 towards the general upgrading of its building, ready for welcoming audiences back through the doors once Covid-19 restrictions allow.

Mike Brooks, the theatre’s marketing manager, said although there had not been a show since last February, the group was lucky enough to own its own building, which was donated to the group in the 1940s. In addition, the Priory has an army of volunteers on hand ready to give up their time for free, to help with a variety of roles including lighting, designing and building sets, making costumes and front of house duties.

And he praised the people of Kenilworth for their ongoing support.

Mike said: “This year has hit us hard, like it’s hit everyone hard.

But in Kenilworth we’re really lucky as although it is a small town there are two great theatre groups – both of which are thriving. This in itself is testament to the people of the town for the constant support they give.”

Originally established in the Earlsdon area of Coventry in the 1930s, the Priory theatre group was moved to Kenilworth by one of the founders who lived in the town.

His family owned the building where the theatre stands today – an old chapel built in 1816 – and when the group moved the chapel was transformed from being utilised mainly as a storage facility, into a theatre.

Mike said: “The Priory has 120 seats and we try to put on about seven or eight productions a year, with the aim of paying being able to pay for the costumes and sets for the next show and – if there is anything left over – spending on the upkeep of the building itself.

“We might organise non-theatre related events such as craft events with the aim of bringing more people through our doors and raising a few extra funds, but we never go out actively seeking donations, so to receive such a sizeable sum from the Society out of the blue has come as a welcome surprise and we thank the Heart of England Co-operative Society and its customers for their support.”